Vietnam Veterans visit Naval Museum

Photo By Max Lonzanida | Vietnam Era US Navy Veterans were presented commemorative Vietnam Veteran Commemoration pins and certificates by AJ Orlikoff, a museum educator with the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, on the afternoon of Friday, October 5, 2018. Over 50 US Navy Veterans who served on the USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) were aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) for a memorial service that afternoon. Afterwards, many toured the Hampton Roads Naval Museum and shared their experiences with staff members in the gallery. (US Navy Photo by Max Lonzanida/Released)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

10.07.2018

Story by Max Lonzanida  

Naval History and Heritage Command

The front desk at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum serves as a focal hub for welcoming and orienting museum visitors. Museum Educators and Volunteer Docents often field the same questions regarding the location of the bathrooms, the whereabouts of the gift shop downstairs, or directions to the gangway leading to the USS Wisconsin (BB-64). Over 240 years of Naval History awaits the many who come into the gallery. The museum’s gallery has artifacts, models and interpretive panels that chronicles the birth of the US Navy, the Civil War, WWII and through the Cold War. There is even a snippet of the museum’s new upcoming exhibit which chronicles the US Navy’s involvement in the Vietnam War, which include an inert B-40 rocket and uniforms. The new exhibit is slated to open in May of 2019.

On this particular Friday afternoon, several Vietnam Veterans who served aboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) stopped into the museum. Many had just crossed the gangway from the USS Wisconsin and stopped in the museum to explore the free exhibits. And many who stopped at the front desk, shared their experiences about their service with AJ Orlikoff, one of the museum educators with the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. And many received a thank you; in the form of a commemorative Vietnam War pin and a certificate presented by Orlikoff. For many of the veterans, this was their first commemorative pin, while others placed the pin on their hats which were decorated with pins.

The group was part of the USS Lyman K. Swenson DD729 Sailors Association, whose 60 former crew members and family members were in Norfolk for their annual re-union. The group is dedicated to preserving the history and memories of the USS Lyman K. Swenson DD729, identifying and locating former crewmembers, and encouraging comradeship among those crewmembers through newsletters and an annual reunion. The Association Roster & Directory currently lists over 500 former crewmembers.

The USS Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729) was an Allen M. Sumner Class Destroyer that was first commissioned on February 12, 1944. She carried the namesake of Captain Lyman Knute Swenson, who perished aboard the USS Juneau (CL-52), on November 13, 1942 when the cruiser sank during the Battle of Savo Island. The Swenson saw service in the Korean War and earned a Navy Unit Commendation for her actions during the Inchon Landings. In 1967, she deployed in support of Naval Operations during the Vietnam War. During successive deployments, she and her over 300 crew members provided naval gunfire support, escorted carriers, and other performed roles during the war. She commenced her final deployment to Vietnam on May 9, 1970; and returned a final time to her home port in San Diego on September 5, 1970. She was decommissioned on February 12, 1971 after 27 years of service.

About the Museum:

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Admission to the museum is free, simply by-pass the ticket line and take the stairs or elevator to the museum on the second deck. The museum hosts a robust educational program for area schools and commands, with free educational programs to area schools aligned with state curriculum standards, a travelling sea chest program, a premier Lego outreach program, and historical presentations for area commands. To inquire, contact their Educational Director, Laura Orr at [e-mail] or at [phone]. The museum is also host to a robust volunteer corps, who serve as docents, support special events, and assist in museum archives. To inquire, contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Sink at [e-mail] or at [phone]. Lastly the museum proudly hosts military ceremonies, such as re-enlistments, retirements, and promotions for area commands aboard the U.S.S Wisconsin and in the museum’s gallery. To inquire, contact their special events coordinator, Tom Dandes at [e-mail] or call [phone].

• Date Taken: 10.07.2018
• Date Posted: 10.07.2018 02:25
• Story ID: 295650
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US